Jeremiah 1 explained: A Young Man Called to Speak

Who and when (vv. 1-3)

Jeremiah came from a family of priests in Anathoth, a village a few miles from Jerusalem. His work lasted about forty years, from the reign of King Josiah until Jerusalem fell and its people were taken into exile in Babylon in 587 or 586 BC.

Chosen before birth (vv. 4-8)

The LORD says Jeremiah was set apart for this task before he was born, and that his message would reach other nations too, not only Judah. Jeremiah protests that he is too young and no speaker, and the LORD answers not with an argument but with a promise to be with him.

Words placed in his mouth (vv. 9-10)

The touch on his mouth pictures God supplying the words Jeremiah felt he lacked. Four of the six verbs describe tearing down and only two describe building and planting, which matches the book's shape: mostly warnings of ruin, with hope of rebuilding afterward.

The almond branch (vv. 11-12)

In Hebrew the word for almond sounds like the word for watching, so the picture is a pun. The almond is the first tree to blossom after winter, which fits a God who is awake and sure to carry out what he has said.

The boiling pot (vv. 13-16)

A boiling pot tipping from the north pictures armies about to pour over Judah, later named in the book as Babylon, whose forces likely came by the northern route around the desert. The thrones at Jerusalem's gates may mean conquerors holding court there or may simply mean their war camps, and the text blames Judah's turn to other gods and handmade idols.

Made strong to stand (vv. 17-19)

The command to get ready literally means tucking up long robes to move freely, and Jeremiah is warned that giving in to fear would leave him broken before his hearers. He is pictured as a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall, because the opposition would come from his own kings, officials, priests and people.

Key verse: Jeremiah 1:5

Something to think about

Have you ever been asked to take on something you felt too young or unready for, and what made the difference in whether you did it?